Darren Clay Jones (March 9, 1972 - May 5, 2014)

 Photo Courtesy of PBO

 Photo Courtesy of Beech Bend Raceway Park

Photo Courtesy of PBO

 

 

By Odell Turner

Drag Racing News and Photo's Blog

 

   Race fans we lost one of the greatest persons in the racing world.  Clay was not only a great person on the racing scene, but also in many other areas.  Clay was a great husband to Stephanie Renee Jones.  He was great Father to Clacey Renee Jones.  He was a great son to Dallas and Alfreda Jones.  He was a great brother to Dana (Jonathan) Porter and Charlotte (Rick) Gonzalez.  He was a great Uncle to Broc (Rebecca) Porter, Reed Gonzalez, Grant Gonzalez, Brianne (Jacob) Fortney, and Rachel Gonzalez.  He was a great grandson to Viola Cottrell.  He was great to all his Family.

 

    Clay was owner of Clay Jones Trucking and DC Transport, Vice-President of Beech Bend Raceway and Beech Bend Park.  He was also President of Clacey's Auto & Hardware and Clacey's Quick Fuel.

  

    Clay was a lot of things to a lot of people.  He was a friend to many.  A boss, racer, promoter, business man, leader, hard worker, Christian and much, much more!  I remember racers coming to the race tower at Beech Bend Raceway to get advice from him.  I also seen Clay checking out a cool looking drag car.  And cleaning up an oil spill on the track.  Checking out the radar for the weather moving in on the track.  Seeing him shake hands with an employee at Clay's Trucking Christmas dinner.  He was something to everyone that he can in contact with.

 

   Some things I remember personally about Clay.  The year was 1986,  I became track photographer at BBR under the ownership of the Jones Family.  Clay must have been only 14 years old.  I had the honor to watching Clay grow from a kid to a man.  I remember when there were no one to flag at a stock car race Clay took the stand.  When no one was there to snap a winning photo, Clay took the picture.  When no one was there to call the race, Clay picked up the microphone.  I remember being in many years of stock car rules meetings, stock banquets and stock car races.  I remember one night at the AMRA Harley Drags and Rally as we got report of a young man had falling into the river from the other side of BBR.  Clay and I decided we would help look and went up river and got into mud.  There was an approximately 30 foot drop to the river.   It was very dark and cold.  Clay was leading to way into the wooded area along the river bank when he stepped into the slimy mud.  Clay fell to the ground and I grab at him.  He pulled me down and we both slid down the bank toward the 30 foot drop.  The temperature was about 40 and the river was very cold.  As we were sliding toward river both of us grab a small tree that stopped us.  We made our way back up hill crawling.  When we came out muddy from head to toe, Margaret sat in our golf cart laughing.  It was very scary but afterward looking back it was funny.  I remember when he told us that he was going to be a daddy.  He was so happy and proud.  There are many more stories I could tell.  However, I will close by saying, I have lost a very close friend and will miss him.  Going back to Beech Bend will be fun and an experience but with Clay not there it will NEVER be the SAME.  RIP my friend.  God bless the Jones Family is our prayer.